multifocal cancer

Multifocal/Multicentric Sisters -

Thanks for good wishes for surgery.  I'm 4 days post-op, at home and feeling better.   

A SNB was done before surgery and three nodes were clear.  Final path results will be in this week and I'm nervous for results, but really grateful that the surgery is over.  

Pre-surgery, BS said that I have 2 masses combined with DCIS.  I thought that DCIS progressed into IDC, so that wouldn't be too unusual, would it?   I will share whatever I learn.   

Good wishes and healing to all ~

jrgolomb

I had heard the same about LCIS not really being a cancer, and had originally thought that's what I had.  Much of this is confusing, and asking doesn't always answer the question.  Pretty frustrating - 

My final path report was clear - I am so relieved.  I'll see the BS on Friday, and hopefully - fingers crossed - will get some if not all drains out.  

I'm so thankful for my diagnosis, but so sad for other BC Sisters fighting the battle.  And I'm feeling guilty that I will come out this relatively unscathed - although with a big reminder right in front of me that I will carry around with me forever.   Still trying to find a new normal.

Hugs and good wishes to you ~

From path report, looks like I'm multifocal and multicentric.  Two masses in two different quadrants of one breast, masses both had combination IDC and DCIS.  

 I'm worried about a recent Her-2 positive path report - have heard that triple negative isn't good, but didn't realize that positive Her-2 usually means chemo and Herceptin.  I was told that I most likely wouldn't need further treatment. 

 jrgolomb   one drain out, 2 to go.  Hopefully Monday is the day.  And you're right - there are BC brothers out there too.  

Final 2 drains out!!  Thirteen days with those grenades - what a relief to get them out.  

Hope that everything goes well with your check up, jrgolomb.   

jrgolomb

Woohoo - best news!  So happy for you and NED!  Hope you figure out the RBC's - maybe that's a common response with all of this?  

This website has been a Godsend for me.  I'm so lucky to have supportive family and friends, but they will never know what's really going on.  My mother said to me yesterday  "once your bruising from surgery goes away, you should no longer be in any pain".  Yeah - right.  I don't have a response for that, and don't have the heart to tell her that I will always hurt, emotionally or physically.  

Hello Multifocal Sisters - 

I realize that this post isn't too active, but here goes -    

Today I am 4 weeks out from BMX, and feeling good.  Path reports are still not complete which is very frustrating.  What I notice is that any plans for treatment are based on the pathology of the bigger tumor only.  I had 2 masses - 1.8cm and 1.6cm.  From what I understand, each mass has its own characteristics - why isn't pathology from both be considered for treatment?  

I have a great oncologist but won't see her again for another month.   

Thanks - 

Joy 

So here's the latest - an oncotype dx was done on the smaller 1.6 cm tumor - the lesser aggressive, from what I understand, of the two tumors that I had.  Why that tumor was chosen to perform the oncotype dx on, I have no idea.   The larger tumor, 1.8 cm, has been in question because of an initial Her-2 positive result.   FISH was done on both tumors, both came out negative.   FISH report suggests that the larger tumor has polysomy 17 - maybe a reason why initially it came out positive for Her-2.  From what I read, this doesn't necessarily make this tumor Her-2positive, the negative result should hopefully still remain, especially with Grade 1. 

Long story short - an oncotype dx is now being done on the larger tumor - IMO, what should have been done in the first place.   I suspect that if the larger tumor had been tested first, the second smaller one may not have been oncotype dx'd at all.  So it seems that both masses will be considered for treatment.  It's just being done in a very slow and tortuous manner.   

Hope this makes sense - whew.  I feel better just typing it out.   

jrgolomb   In my case, I think that somebody reached in the cryo vat, or whatever they store all of bio samples in, and blindly chose one of the two vials with my name on it.  It just happened to be the one sample without the polysomy 17 result.  I'm not a pathologist, but it seems that this tumor is the one that is more in question and thought to be more aggressive.   And of course my insurance company wants to deny the oncotype dx on the second tumor.   

Do you have questions about your positive node?  

So less than 2cm - one positive node, grade 1 - clear margins?  means Stage 2?  I'm no chemo expert - but I wonder about that too.

My oncologist was listing just the larger tumor for treatment, completely ignoring the smaller.  They were not much different in size, 1.8cm and 1.6cm.  My BS said that because some of the further testings (like oncotype dx) are so expensive, one tumor is tested.   So it looks like pathology is done from all tumors after surgery, and then the largest is selected if other testing is done, for the most part.  My onc has a good geneticist that has the time to talk - I'll ask her.  

I asked if all tumors were added together, and then staged from the sum of everything.  BS said no.   

That does seem strange - it's all cancer and what's the difference if they're separated?  I'm glad it's that way, though, because treatment for me would be different if it were the sum of the masses.  Not that I want to avoid treatment if it's needed.  Have you done Tamoxifen, or an AI?  It looks like I will be starting Tamoxi in January, kind of scared about the SE's. 

jrgolomb, I've been on Femara for a year now. I didn't take tamixifen, so can't compare it, but will say I'm doing fairly well with it. Some hot flashes and aches and pains, but no where bad enough to go off the stuff. There is an active Femara thread you might want to check out.

I just had a lumpectomy removing a lesion at the 12 oclock position of my left breast......I was feeling great until I did a recent breast exam.......I am pretty sure I didn't feel this one before and am wondering if it is just a swollen lymph node from my surgery.........it is actually almost right between my breasts but still in the left one.........if you were looking at me it would be the 9 oclock position...........:( I have a doc appointment the 16th.............trying not to worry......never even crossed my mind that I could have more than one.........and I didn't receive an MRI or anything before hand.........